Detachable coffin-han ole



(No Model.)

J. KLAR. DETAGHABLE GOFFIN HANDLE.

No. 532,073. PatentedJaJn. 8, 1895.-

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

m: NORRIS PETERS co. momurnor. WASHINGTON. a, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\ JACOB KLAR, OF RODNEY, MISSISSIPPI.

DETACHABLE COFFlN-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 532,073, dated January 8, 1895. Application filed December 28, 1893- Serial No. 494,945. (No model.)

To all'whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB KLAR, of Rodney, in the county of Jefferson and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Detachable Coffin-Handles,

' to provide a novel, simple, and neat appliance, which will be ornamental in appearance, and which may be temporarily secured upon a coffin or burial casket, in lieu of permanently affixed handles, so as to dispense with the latter and afford reliable means for the safe and convenient carriage of the coffin,

and be quickly removable therefrom when they are no longer required for its portage.

To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is an end view of a burial casket, and the improvement shown partly in section and temporarily secured thereon; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached perspective View of the improvement.

The invention briefly considered, comprises two similar handle bars, which are flexibly connected, and by said connections adapted to loosely engage opposite sides of a coffin while the strands that unite the handle bars have an engagement with the casket bottom and the portions of its sides that are below the handles, duplicate sets of the handle bars and flexible connections being furnished for the transportation of a coffin or other elongated receptacle that is to be carried by hand.

In the drawings, A represents one of the handle bars, which is preferably given a cylindrical form, having suitable dimensions for eflicient service. At the ends of the bar A, two similar head blocks B, are affixed,

which blocks are mainly circular, and of such a diameter as will properly project the han- 5o dle bars away from the coffin side walls when the head blocks are made to rest against said walls.

Preferably there is a flattened surface produced on the circular edges of the head blocks B. Those on the handle bars are located in the same plane, these fiat faces being outermost in service. Around the blocks B,ornamental metal hands a, are secured, which afford a finish therefor, strengthen these preferably wooden pieces, and serve to bind thereon a covering of black cloth, a similar covering being applied to the surface of the bars A.

A loop piece C,is provided for each handle bar A. These are formed from strong cordage, or wire rope may be employed if a very heavy receptacle is to be handled by use of the improvement, said looped pieces being reliably secured by their ends upon the bars A, near each head-block B. At the bight of each looped piece 0, a preferably cylindrical bearing block D, is affixed by the lapped and secured end portions of carrier strands E, the parts 0, D, being incased with a black cloth covering to render their appearance harmonious with the handle bars, and appropriate for their service.

The lower portions of the strong carrier strands E, may be left uncovered, while such parts aswill be exposed to sight should be covered with black cloth to conform with the color of the other parts of the device. A hook I) is furnished to join together the lower portions of the carrier strands E, one of which flexible portions is knotted at intervals, as shown at c, in Fig. 2, so as to permit the hook to be changed and engage with the longer portion of the strand at different points, and thus alter the length of the partsE, as may be necessary for their proper engagement with a casket or coffin F.

The handle bars A, are preferably ornamented with black tassels G, that are affixed on the outer surface of each head-block B, by silver locking plates I, that may be given any preferred conformation. Other tassels J, are secured to hang pendent from the bearing blocks D, as indicated. 7

On each pair of head-blocks B, a preferably elastic cord cl, is secured by it ends, which cords are black in color.

When the duplicate pairs of bars A, and attachments thereto, are to be temporarily held upon the sides of a casket F, that is otherwise devoid of handles, small hooks e, are screwed in each side of the casket at a proper distance from the lid and ends of the same, so as to afford a connection for the parts A, with the casket, the elastic cords 01, being hung upon the hooks, that are so small as to avoid dis play; the attachment of the cords as stated, serving to retain the handles at opposite points on the coffin or casket ready for service, and from their manner of construction and finish affording chaste and appropriate ornaments for the receptacle they are connected to. c The bearing blocks D, are brought into po sition at the lower corners of the casket when in service, and prevent abrasion of the latter, while they add to the finish of'the detachable handles.

When the coffin and contents have been placed, in the burial vault or grave, the handles may be removed intact by their detachment from the small supporting hooks that are allowed to remain attached to the coffin.

It will be seen that the novel detachable handles may be repeatedly used by the funeral director or undertaker, and enable the production of a coffin or casket at reduced cost without detriment to the appearance of' the burial case.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a coffin handle, the handle bar A, provided with enlarged rounding head pieces B spaced apart to admit the hand, a flexible depending loop 0 secured at its ends adjacent to the head pieces, a flexible carrier strand E depending from the lower end of the loop 0 and a transverse bearing block D, extending through a bight in the strand E Where it joins loop 0, substantially as described.

2. In a coffin handle, the handle barA, provided with enlarged rounding head pieces B, spaced apart to admit the hand, an elastic suspension cord d connected to the two head blocks, the depending flexible loop C secured at its ends adjacent to the head blocks, the flexible carrier strand E secured to the lower end of the loop and provided at its juncture therewith with a transverse bearing block D, to engage the outer side of the coffin at its lower edge, substantially as described.

3. A detachable handle for coffins or caskets, comprising two similar cylindrical handle bars, head-blocks on ends of said bars, of greater diameter than the-bars to space them from the coffin sides and flattened on one side,devices on the handle bars for temporarily attaching them to the coffin or casket, looped flexible pieces affixed by their ends to the handle bars, separable carrier strands attached to the lower ends of the looped pieces, and adjustable forlength, and bearing blocks secured at the point of attachment of the ends of the strands upon the bights of the looped pieces to engage the outer sides of the coffin at its lower edges, substantiallyas described. i

4. A detachable handle for coffins or caskets', comprising two similar cylindrical clotheovered handle bars, circular head-blocks on the ends of said bars, of greater diameter than the bars to space them from the coffin sides and each flattened on one side, cloth covered flexible looped pieces attached by their ends upon the handle bars, separable carrier strands affixed by their ends to the bight of the looped pieces, bearing blocks at the junctions of the strand with the looped pieces to engage the outer sides of the coflin at its lower edges, elastic cords on the hearing blocks adapted to engage hooks on the casket, and clamping bands on the edges of the head-blocks, substantially as described.

JACOB KLAR. 

